Monday, October 17, 2011

Medical Mission Work

We were blessed this month to be able to work alongside visiting medical missionaries from the US. It was a week of very long days (11 hours without breaks even for lunch) and hard work, but oh the joy. Over a hundred patients seen each day, and we had the joy of leading more than we can count to the Lord!

Hallelujah!

Make Maidah

Make Sidudla

"My hope is in Heaven--who else but Jesus would be my husband at my age?!: She makes me laugh!

MIPI Faithful Prayer Warriors!

These women faithfully pray for the children in their community guided by God's Word!

Our House in Swaziland

We are blessed!

Banqueting Table

Foreshadow of the Feast we'll have in Heaven!

Hope

We're just kids!

Healing

She did the medical part and I did the praying!

Hospital Ministry Team

Beautiful Bomake from Section 19

MITI Conference

Jane and Ncamsile---new MITI leaders loving the Word of God

Jehovah Rapha

Molly and Sibongile trying to distract Mhlenge in the emergency clinic

Busted

"What chocolate ice cream bars...?

Brothers

Phinda and Jeremy goofing around

A Match Made in Heaven, Part 3

I have my very own blanket!

A Match Made in Heaven, Part 2

My firends call it my "car!"

A Match Made in Heaven, Part 1

Look--our very own refrigerator!

Let the Little Children Come Unto Me

Happy diner!

Pray continually!

We love to pray!

Metamorphosis

This grasshopper with bizzare markings was found on a rose in our garden--God causes it to change as necessary to adapt and survive. He does the same and so much more for each of us!

John--first shovel full!

A Family Saved

Filemon has chosen to do things God's way!

A Neighbor Boy

Girl in Vuvulane, Swaziland

Full of Joy

Stepping Out in Faith!

West Family Together

We'll soon be leaving our oldest son, Zack (far left) behind but trust that God will continue to guide him and lead him and take care of him. The parting will be difficult but we know we are all following what God would have us do.

Her Home

Her Garden

Come ye who are heavy laden....

Beautiful Swaziland

Here is a tiny taste of the beauty the Creator poured into Swaziland, a truly beautiful country.

Inequality

The sign says, "Beware of Crocodile"

Here We Are, Lord, Send Us!

God is calling....

Jabulani!

This is the happy widow (jabulani means joy in siSwati) with her new mud hut! May God's light shine brightly in and through this home built with love!

Mud Hut Building 101

I confess, it was a LOT of fun, and halleljuah, God has used our day of labor in so many wonderful ways!

Hard-Working Guys

For the glory of the Lord!

Working Together

We all worked side by side--the men chopped down trees for lumber, a pit was dug to mix cement and dirt, the frame was built, rocks were placed between the beams, and mud was slapped on!

Before

Pastor La'Salette asked John and Tom to go out with some of the Swazi church men to see if this home needed to be rebuilt. You think...?!

We Called Her "Princess"

We think you'll agree that in another culture, another place, this beautiful child would have a future as a supermodel! Our prayer is that she have an eternal future with Christ, because her future in Swaziland may be quite bleak.

Loveable Kids

The kids find joy in spite of horrendous circumstances--and they are so hungry for love!

Kids, Kids, and Still More Kids!

The kids loved John!

Kids, Kids, and More Kids....

The kids loved Tom!

The Joy of the Lord

These women broke into impromptu praise and worship (in siSwazti) after we shared with them from the Bible. They may be illiterate, poor, and suffer with AIDS, but they sure know how to belt out songs of adoration to the Lord!

Feet

Because of disease and poverty, there are many skin disorders. Praise God for the generosity of Bridgeway Community Church, our home church, for providing money for paving stones for one of the Care Points so the children can eat their one meal a day without standing in mud any more during the rainy season.

Keeping Warm

It was winter--we wore jackets and shoes. Many of the kids had neither. This child seems to be trying to keep warm.

Daran Was Well-Behaved-Our Puppy Was Not!

Links

"My" Girl at School

Please pray for her--she's got HIV symptoms. She was so excited to see us--she's the one turning towards the camera with a welcoming smile.

Full of Smiles...and Probably AIDS

He peeked around the corner at us with his big grin. Because of sickness and/or malnourishment, this 6 year old was the size of a toddler. His stomach was distended (probably from liver problems) and his face covered in a rash (probably from AIDS) but he delighted in having his photo taken and all the attention we couldn't help but give him!

Suffering

I thought about not putting these graphic photos on the blog, but truly this is the story and it needs to be told. Scenes like this are so commonplace there. My heart is still crying for these people.

AIDS is Not Pretty

She was skin and bones and her eyes rolled back in her head uncontrollably. She is blessed to have a grandmother visit her in the hospital.

Bible Study

They can't read and don't own Bibles, but through an interpreter I was able to share His Word.

Next Time You Feel Like Grumbling About Your Job.....

Please remember Maria and others like her. This is what she does and what she earns is enough food for herself and her family. Period.

Praying With Joy

This was one of the cooks. We were both in tears as I prayed with her. Her life is incredibly hard and pain-filled, but her name is Joy and I trust that Christ will fill her with His joy.

One of the "Lucky" Ones

This young boy lives in a home for children where he gets 3 meals a day, sleeps in a warm bed at night, and is held by loving arms by his housemother and others. He was rescued from the abandoned children's ward by another of God's servants, a generous woman named Robin who has lived in Swaziland for many years and adopted one Swazi daughter before opening up 3 lovely children's homes. This boy will live here until he's an adult. Yes, he lost both parents, but God is His Father and this boy is loved.

She Smiles

How can we complain about anything? This young girl patiently waits for paperwork to go through so she can get to South Africa for surgery on her facial tumor. It grew daily while I was there.

One Meal a Day

These kids came in from the fields, barefoot and covered in flies. They gratefully gobbled corn and beans with their hands. We handed them lollipops and were rewarded with beautiful smiles shining from warm brown eyes.

My Swazi Sisters

This is one group of women with whom I lead Bible study and prayed and praised the Lord. I'm the lighter skinned one. :)

Village Boy

Notice all this toddler is wearing is a ripped shirt. It was winter and we were bundled up. He was by the fire apparently trying to stay warm.